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Monday, January 31, 2011

Our Dining Room Transformation!

As promised last week, here are some pictures of my dining room makeover. It is truly a transformation from a hodgepodge of color and styles to a soothing and calming color palette.

Here are a few before pictures:

BEFORE

Dark, scratched, chipped and miserable furniture with nice lines. "Old English" just wasn't doing it anymore and a total refinishing of a dining room table, buffet, china closet and 6 chairs was definitely out of the question!

BEFORE

I have had this furniture for 35 years. It was in the first house we purchased and the owners told us we could have it (minus the chairs) for $100.00. There were no chairs with the set so we used folding chairs until we could find some that would be compatible. Not thinking that we would ever find 6 chairs in the same style, I set out on a search. It was years later that I saw an add in the newspaper for a solid mahogany dining room set. I wondered what the odds would be that the owner would be willing to break the set up and only sell the chairs. Hmm...it never hurts to ask!

BEFORE

BEFORE....(and some after in the background)

When we went to see the set, it was the exact style as ours! The lady was desperate to sell and immediately said that we could have all 6 chairs for $60.00!

FIRST CHAIR WITH PRIMER

THIS POOR OLD PIANO WAS LOOKING PRETTY SHABBY...AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY!!! IT IS ENTERING IT'S FIRST PHASE OF A FACE LIFT...PRIMER.

BEFORE

HERE YOU CAN SEE HOW THE DINING ROOM WALL AND TRIM COLOR CLASH WITH THE KITCHEN! IT WAS TIME TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER IN SIMILAR TONES.

oh yes....

And one more BEFORE picture ~ ~ ~ ~

BEFORE

Bye bye old chandelier! I hope someone was excited to find this at Goodwill! It hung in our home for many years and I was MORE than happy to pass it along.

Oh! I forgot about the mirror...an old mirror that I had in the attic for years. I always loved the etched glass but couldn't quite embrace the frame. I decided that I didn't want to get rid of it and would never use it if I didn't do something with it to suit my taste.

BEFORE

.....................................and two more mirrors that were hanging around in the workshop...................................

BEFORE

BEFORE

~ * ~ * ~ * Okay ~ * ~ * ~ *

ARE YOU READY ? ? ?

Now for the reveal

REMEMBER THE CHANDELIER FROM GOODWILL FOR $6.97?

THE FRAME ABOVE THE BUFFET IS ACTUALLY THE FRAME FOR A SMALL DOOR. THIS WAS IN OUR BARN WHEN WE MOVED HERE. I REMOVED THE DOOR (to be used in a future project) AND PLACED AN OLD EMBELLISHMENT ON TOP. I PLACED AN OLD MIRROR INSIDE THAT I FOUND AT A FLEA MARKET.

I MADE THE DRAPES FROM PAINT DROP CLOTHS AND TRIMMED THEM WITH VINTAGE ICE BLUE SATIN RIBBON.

I LOVE WHEN THE SUN SHINES ON THEM AND MAKES THEM SHIMMER ALONG THE EDGES!

A TAFFETA SHOWER CURTAIN THAT I PURCHASED AT A FLEA MARKET AND SOME OLD CHEMICAL BOTTLES WITH CRYSTAL TOPPERS CULLED FROM MY "STASH". SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE MEANT FOR MY ETSY SHOP NEVER QUITE GET LISTED! I CAN'T RESIST!!!

DINNERWARE AND IRONSTONE PITCHERS, (once again pulled from my Etsy Store), AND STERLING FLATWARE THAT I INHERITED FROM MY AUNT.

I LOVE THIS DINNERWARE AFTER USING OUR BRIGHTLY COLORED HARLEQUIN DISHES FOR SO LONG! I PACKED THEM AWAY FOR NOW. (You never know when the color mood might return! I don't want to burn any bridges here. My taste is far too fickle.)

OLD SHUTTER FROM THE BARN FOR RADIATOR SHELF. I AM GOING TO BUILD A SURROUND FOR IT, (eventually)...but for now---it's good 'nuf fer me.

A VINTAGE CEMETERY BASKET ON TOP OF AN OLD CAST IRON WATER TANK HOLDER, (glass insert), ALL YARD SALE AND FLEA MARKET FINDS!

I LOVE THIS DETAIL ON THE PIANO AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IT. I PAINTED THE INSERTS WITH A MIXTURE OF THE WALL COLOR, MIXED WITH A TINY BIT OF GREEN. THEN I UNIFIED THE BACKGROUND COLOR WITH THE ORNAMENTATION BY MIXING A BIT OF UMBER INTO A GLAZE AND APPLYING IT OVER THE ENTIRE PIECE.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED LOOKING AT MY REDECORATING PROJECT AND STOP BACK LATER FOR SOME MORE PHOTOS OF THE DETAILS. THANKS SO MUCH FOR LOOKING!

HAPPY JUNKING, THRIFTING AND DECORATING!

SINCERE THANKS TO MY SISTER, VICKIE, FOR GIVING UP ALMOST A WEEK OF HER LIFE TO HELP ME PAINT THE WALLS AND TRIM! I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD HAVE DONE IT BY MYSELF, OR GOTTEN THE WALL COLOR "JUST RIGHT".

Following is a list of paints that I used on the walls, trim and furniture as well as the technique I used on the furniture. I did a separate tutorial for the piano which is listed below.

Coated all furniture with 2 coats of polycrylic. (3 coats for buffet and table tops)

Note* I used leftover paint from previous projects to keep costs down and not waste what I had.

I don't have a name for the wall paint color. It is a very light aqua that I had custom mixed at Benjamin Moore and used on my dining room walls. My sister and I experimented with mixing small amounts of baby blue, yellow/gold and white that I had on hand and took it to Benjamin Moore to have them custom mix enough for the room.

Below is a picture of the label. If you are interested in getting this paint color, you could jot the formula down and take it to them to have it mixed. They will keep the formula on file for you and you can call it anything you like. I named mine "Cindy's Dining Room 2010".

All wood trim was painted with Calming Cream semi-gloss by Benjamin Moore

If you arrived at my blog post via a Link Party please click on "Links To This Post" or scroll down and click on the button that will take you back to that site. It is a courtesy to the kind blog host offering us all an opportunity to share our projects and finds.

Thank you, Elegant Thrifter! This was a debate that I had with myself for the last few years and I am so glad that I just plunged in. No regrets!Congratulations on your book "The Find"! I will definitely have to get a copy.

Cindy I can't wait to show my mom this! You're a genius! You should have your own television show! The room is beautiful and really shows what a person can do with creativity, elbow grease, and follow through! I am far to ADHD to ever begin a project like that. A girl has got to know her limitations!!!! Hope all is well with you. Good luck with everything! I've posted your Etsy store on my Miss Ruth's Time Bomb facebook page. I hope my Time Bombers bring you some traffic!Sarah Taby

Sarah! So good to hear from you! I see that you still have your great sense of humor. Thanks so much for posting my store and blog on your Facebook page! You have a fabulous store and I will be sure to put a link to it on my vintage culler Facebook page once I get it going. It is static right now. You have inspired me to press on! Give your mom a big hug for me. I wish the best for you also. Cindy

CindyI could so dine with you, or tea taking in the beauty of your dinning room. I would so be able to move right in if you left it all behind, I would just mix it with mine and you would think it was a well planned out room.

Hey I seen your comment right above mine on Vintage Farmhouse Blog...saw the word vintage had to check ya out! lol. Love what I see and I am now a new follower of yours. I look forward to see more to come from you. Love to have you swing by and join my blog as well.Take Care.Debhttp://dejarenew.blogspot.com

WOW...your makeover looks outstanding and FRESH! Get this...I have the same buffet...china cabinet ad dining chairs...my table is oval...it came from my MIL...it was the first room my hubby picked...because his mother always loved to entertain.

Oh my. I usually cringe when I see wood painted, but yours looks just lovely. zo definitely believe you have to enjoy the pieces you have. I especially love the piano. I'm getting ready to do ours, although it's more modern and will never be my style. I've actually already told the daughter it'll be hers whenever she wants it.

Your dining room is beautiful. I have the same dining room suite, just different chairs. I have been thinking about painting it. After seeing your beautiful transformation I will definitely being taking the plunge. Thank you for sharing.

I am thrilled that you painted your furniture and that you are happy with the resluts. Several years ago, I painted our kitchen cabinets. . .I've never regreted that decision! Lovely dining room. Was all this inspiration from a $6.99 chandy? Amazing. Thank you for showing us what hard work and a vision can produce!Fondly,Pat

Thank you, Pat! The chandelier really is what inspired the project although I would have done everything just the same had I not found this bargain light fixture. I would have figured something else out because our old chandelier just had to go! Thanks for stopping by! Cindy

I can soooo relate to this! I love your nerve to get the paintbrush out and just do it! The room is peaceful and beautiful and feels breezy...I LOVE IT!I love what Elegant Thrifter said about getting sentimental and living with things you don't love! So true!Oh, I hope you'll become a regular on Wednesdays at All Things Inspired...I just love your style!xxoxoRobinAll Things Heart and Home

Thank so much, Robin! I would love to be a regular on Wednesdays at All Things Inspired. I will need to heal from a pinched nerve before I can get back into "transforming" any more rooms but I will look forward to visiting your blog anyway! Cindy

Great transformation! I dont seem to have trouble painting funiture thats been damaged but to paint just to paint...it really takes a lot more courage for some reason! You've inspired me to take the plunge!

Absolutely amazing transformation!! It is just gorgeous!! I love so many things about your space- wow- it's beautiful. Would love if you would come by and share this at Feathered Nest Friday~ love it.:)

I'm over visiting from My uncommon slice of suburbia and I cannot get over your piano!!! I'm needing to paint mine and I thought I was ready until I saw yours! Can you please tell me what color you used and any tips or a tutorial would be AMAZING!! I'm very nervous about my project and any information would be so helpful--there isnt much out there on painting pianos, and you seemed to have gotten it just right, it's gorgeous and fits wonderfully with the rest of your room! So restful!! Love it!

Shelly- I will do a tutorial on how I painted my piano and the colors I used. I will try to do it this week! The thought of painting a piano can be daunting but it is not nearly as scary as it seems. Take heart!

About Me

I love my role as wife, mother and grandmother most of all. I love vintage items and the charm they bring to a home. Familiarity is comforting and so many vintage items I come across in my travels remind me of my childhood. Good memories associated with these familiar objects are why I gravitate to them. If given the choice, I would rather spend a morning at a flea market than at the mall!